The Pioneers of Clinical Neurology in South America

RICARDO ALLEGRI, CECILIA M. SERRANO

Chicago

Congreso; Meeting American Academy of Neurology 2008; 2008

American Academy of Neurology

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to review the beginning of neurology in South America (SA). BACKGROUND: The field of neurology in SA began to emerge towards the end of the nineteenth century, following the origin of the specialty in Europe. We shall not list all neurologists extensively; instead, the most important founders and their contributions will be highlighted. DESIGN/METHODS: A search in Index Medicus, Embase, and LILACS databases was executed using the key search terms “History, Neurology, South America and the names of each country”. RESULTS: The foundations of clinical neurology in South America took root in 1885, with the Hospital San Roque de Buenos Aires´ first nervous diseases service. Its first head was José Maria Ramos Mejía. In 1887, only five years after Charcot was awarded the chief of neurology position in Paris, Ramos Mejía became the first professor of neurology at the University of Buenos Aires. In 1925, Uruguay took an important step with the creation of the Department of Neurological Diseases, approved in the School of Medicine of Montevideo, with Américo Ricaldoni as its chairman. In 1927, the Uruguayan government created the Instituto de Neurología de Montevideo, and Ricaldoni was designated director. This was the first neurological institute in Latin America - preceding the Montreal Neurological Institute by several years. Seventeen years later, the Arquivos de Neuropsiquiatria from Sãn Pablo was created under the direction of Oswaldo Lange. This is the foremost journal of neurosciences in Latin America. CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: In this setting, as it often occurs, the position of cultural subordination of some countries relative to others usually entails benefits and drawbacks. In the last years, "globalization" has been positive for South American countries, as cooperative projects among them, as well as with first world countries, are now resulting in a more rapid development of SA neurology. Supported by: Conicet and GCBA.